The Likud party approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to expand his control over the party's Knesset slate, according to Israeli media. No further details were immediately available.
On Monday evening, the Likud central committee voted to approve Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to expand his control over the party's Knesset slate, capping a day of tense voting. The committee approved eight reserved slots for Netanyahu on the national list, a change to the primary system allowing sitting MKs, ministers, and deputy ministers to also run in districts, and a reform proposal by Minister Haim Katz. The district-candidacy clause passed by a narrow margin of just six votes, according to N12's Amit Segal, reflecting the deep internal divisions over the changes.
The vote followed weeks of internal debate that The Zioneer has tracked. On June 17, a senior Likud figure said Netanyahu was 'serious' about advancing an arranging committee. On June 22, reports emerged of fierce resistance to his demand for 10 reserved slots, with some senior figures preferring an arranging committee. On June 23, Netanyahu reportedly threatened to quit the party unless his demands were met. On July 19, the Likud Constitution Committee approved eight reserved slots. Then on Monday, the central committee vote unfolded, with initial counts after half the ballots showing a large majority for the reserved slots, but a tight race on the district amendment. The final tally saw 73% turnout among nearly 4,000 voters, and the full slate of proposals passed.
As The Zioneer previously reported, the push for reserved slots was part of a strategic effort by Netanyahu to consolidate the nationalist camp and bring former rivals like Gideon Sa'ar and Moshe Kahlon back into the Likud fold. The internal resistance reflected broader concerns about the party's democratic traditions, with some figures arguing that granting the prime minister extensive personal appointments would undermine the primaries system.
While the central committee vote has concluded, the narrow margin on the district-candidacy clause suggests that internal party tensions may persist. The exact composition of the list and the placement of the reserved slots, including which candidates will fill them, remain to be finalized. The implications for party unity and the next general election campaign are still unclear.
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